NEW YORK, OCT. 20, 2009 — The M &A Advisor today announced 170 finalists for its 8th Annual M&A Awards Gala. The finalists – in what is often referred to as the“Academ y Awards for the M&A industr y” – will be judged b y an independent panel and award recipients will be announced at the 8th Annual M&A Awards Gala in New York City on December 14, 2009.

JD Ford & Company is a finalist in the following categories for the Acquisition of Paragon Solutions Group by Forsythe Solutions Group:

Information Technology (Below $100 mm)

Lower Middle Market Deal of the Year (Below $50 mm)

Professional Services (Below $100 mm)

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